The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-03-19
BRIDGET'S TESTIMONY.
COMPLAINTS MADE BY WORKINGWO-
MEN WHO HAVE TRIED SERVICE.
Lack of Freedom when the Days Work
q. Dsuc-The Lon~>omeness Of House
hold service - Prisoner Who Are
I;o.s.si Ev-rIastingfy.

I;o.se.i Ev-riastingty.
First on the list stands Margaret NJ,
an American, % years old and for five
years ia paper box factory. Seven 9TH
ers nodded their assent, or added word
here AMI there n she gave her view. Two
of them were Iri.h-Americans who had
had some years in tho public schools
Its freedom that We want when the
days work il done | know some nice
girls. Brideyet's cousins, that make more
money and dress better and everything
for bein-, in service. They're mattresses
and have Thursday afternoon out and
part of every other Sunday. But they're
never sure of one minute that's their own
when they re in the house. Our day is
ten hours long but when it's done it's
done. and can do what we like with
the evenings. That's what I've heard
from every nice girl that ever tried ser
vice. You're never sure that your SOULS
your own. except when you are out of the
house, and l couldn't stand that day.
Women care just as much for freedom as
men do. OF course they don't get so
much. but I know I'd fight for mine.
w nat | minded" said q gentle, quiet
gffi who worked ct "a stationers, and who
had tried household service for n year
what | minded was the awful lonesome
ness. | went for general housework be
causc I knew all about il, and there were
only three in the family. | never minded
being alone evenings in my own room, for
I'm always reading or something and
don't go ont hardly at all: but then | al
ways know EN- and that there is some
body to- talk To- il | like. But there, ex-
cept to give orders, they had nothing to
do with uIc. 1t got ~ feel sort of crush
ing ut last. ] cried myself sick, and at
last | givo IL up, though don't mind the
work at all
HATED THE VERY WORDS
Third came an Irish American whose
mother had been cook for years in one
family, but who had, after few months
OF service, gone into jute mill, followed
gradually by five sisters.
~ hate the very words service and ser
want" she said. I'VE came To this coun-
try To better ourselves, and it's not bet
tering To have anybody ordering you
round"
''But you are ordered i'm the mill"
That's different A man knows what
he wants and doesn't go beyond it, but a
woman never knows what she wants and
bosses you everlastingly. II there was
such thing rs fixed hours il might be
different, hut | tell every girl l know:
Whatever You do, don't go into service
You'll always be prisoners and always
looked down upon. You can do things at
home for them as belongs to you, but
somehow il seems different to do for
strangers Anyway, ! hate it, and there's
plenty like me
women are always harder on women
than men are" said IA fur sewer, an intel
Egent American about 80. Il got tired
of alra sitting and took n place
as cliaIn1sruiaid. The work was all right
and the wages good, but I'll tell you
what | couldn't stand. The cook and the
waitress were just common, uneducated
Irish, and had to room with one and
stansl tine personal habits of both, and the
way thoy did at table took all my appe-
tite. ! couldn't eat, and began to run
down, AMI mt last | gave notice aud told
the truth when l was asked why. The
lady just looked at HE astonished. If
you take "a servant place You can't ex-
pect to he one Of the family she said. Il
never asked it, l said. All I ask is a
chance at common dccency.' 1T will be
difficult to find an easier place than this,
she said, and knew it, but ease one way
was hardness another, and she couldn't
see that | had any right to complain
That's one trouble in the way. It's the
mixing M of things, and mistresses don't
think how they would feel in the same
place. Helen Campbell i'm New York
Tribune